Reflections on building – Cheng Chen, CirCre

In this blog post, Startup Foundation grantee Cheng Chen shares experiences in building CirCre.

How did I get the grant and what is CirCre?

First, I was lucky enough to receive the grant and put something into action. I am still very thankful for this opportunity.

In the summer of 2023, I joined the Ignite Accelerator Program run by Aaltoes, the entrepreneurship society of Aalto University. That was my first experience in the startup world, and it proved to me how much support is available if you have an idea and want to execute it. Everything I had buried inside me for a long time started to boil again. So, I applied for a Startup Grant immediately after my journey at Ignite. I have always had many ideas, but one stayed and grew.

CirCre means co-creation and circular solutions (and it's like my 'baby' named after me as well). The goal is to bridge the knowledge gap that designers constantly face with material selection and the business need for new sustainable materials to find customers. In the long run, by offering a mutual platform, CirCre aims to curate more innovative sustainable materials with the combined efforts of materials scientists, manufacturers, and brands. I have an educational background in both materials and design, which means the problems arise directly from my experience and are validated by people working in these two fields.

In the first three months of the grant period, we completed the proof of concept, user interviews, expert interviews, market scanning, benchmarking, and demo development. The next step for CirCre is to connect with designers and architects to support sustainable tourism transformation on a Chinese island. This will be an experimental field to deploy and iterate demos of CirCre’s solution. After this experimental phase, we hope to launch the product to the public.

The requirements for getting the grant are stated clearly on the Startup Foundation website. The application process is straightforward, involving one application form and one interview. So don't hesitate, just click and apply!

Biggest learnings that you may find useful

1. The team, the team, and the team

Unlike some solo stars, I value teamwork very much. Individual strength is limited. Building a startup team is like assembling a puzzle where every piece must fit to create the whole picture. The synergy of a cohesive team often surpasses the sum of individual talents. Each member brings unique strengths and perspectives, which drive innovation and problem-solving when combined. In our case, I run the team, align goals, and look for opportunities and people, while others specialize in machine learning engineering, materials development, design, etc.

Timing is crucial when setting up the team. For student founders, the period before graduation season is definitely not a good time. During this period, students are often preoccupied with exams and job searches, making it challenging to secure committed team members. Instead, consider searching for teammates when they can fully dedicate themselves to the journey or at least have a predictable path. For me, this has been the biggest challenge because some people who showed interest in joining had significant life changes in a short time.

One of the most critical aspects of building a team is ensuring that all members are on the same page regarding their commitment levels. Misaligned expectations can lead to frustration and inefficiency. Have open and honest discussions about the time, effort, and dedication required from each team member. This alignment will foster a shared purpose and drive the team towards common goals.

Remember, it’s all about the team, the team, and the team.

2. Navigating the problems

Here, "problems" refer to the challenges your startup aims to solve. While the core of CirCre has remained, navigating these problems is like sailing in the ocean—there are many routes and potential pivots. Here are some key methods to help you navigate these challenges effectively.

Find references

One of the first steps in navigating startup problems is finding references. Look at how other startups have tackled similar issues. This can provide valuable insights and help you avoid common pitfalls. Research industry case studies, attend relevant conferences and engage with online communities to gather as much information as possible.

Validate before and after major changes

Validation is crucial both before and after making major changes. Before implementing a new strategy or pivot, test your assumptions with a small, controlled experiment. Gather feedback from your target user group to ensure the change meets their needs. After making the change, keep validating its effectiveness and seek feedback.

Revisit original directives

It’s essential to repeatedly review the original directives of your project. This helps ensure your team remains aligned with the startup’s mission and goals. Regularly revisiting these directives can also help you identify any deviations from your core objectives and make necessary adjustments. Sometimes, you might find valuable insights there.

Broaden your perspective

Talking to different people can provide a broader view of problems. Engage with mentors, industry experts, and especially your users to gain diverse perspectives. It's worth noting that often the samples are too similar to be seen as different, which happened to me. Try to find people with truly different backgrounds.

3. Building AI with AI, how it drives the pace

I put this point last because I believe the earlier factors are more influential. Sometimes, slow does not necessarily mean slow. A fast tool is not very helpful if it only assists with minor aspects of your progress.

Still, at this time, you can move quickly. In the past, a company would start extremely slow, even when building a landing page. Nowadays, with the help of AI, you can create a reasonable and professional website in as little as two weeks.

For my project CirCre, these are some tools we have used:

WireGen in Figma – a website wireframe generation: This is a plug-in for Figma that effectively helps you communicate the website architecture with other team members, especially the tech-savvy ones. It still has limitations on customized edits, but it is good enough to bring your ideas closer to reality.

Wix Studio – a no-code/low-code website builder: For a person who values visuals, Wix Studio is a cooler version of Wix that offers the basic no-code editor experience. Wix Studio not only provides more flexibility but also includes a responsive editor, allowing you to create responsive gestures and animations on your website. It optimizes your designs for different screen sizes. Although it is slightly more expensive than Wix and other website builders, I believe the overall effectiveness is worth the cost. Even though we decided to focus more on the solution itself rather than brand and website building, I am sure this tool would be very helpful when we want to shout out loud fast.

Streamlit – quick app development: This is a development tool that my technology co-founder uses. It has pre-designed UX/UI templates and elements, so you don't need to spend time deciding on details like button placement at an early stage. However, after this stage, you will still need to rewrite the frontend framework, as there are very limited options for customizing the app.

Reddit – a user pool where you can validate your idea and find directions for the next steps: In my previous startup journey, I spent too much time trying to reach users and solidify my problems. We shouldn't ignore that social media platforms are where many users are. A platform like Reddit, where people share their questions and problems, provides real and reflective insights so you don't create users' problems yourself.

- Cheng Chen